Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH8

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FH8, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the FH8 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was manufactured 22 months later than the FH8 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-M1 scores against the FH8 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Panasonic FH8 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 features outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FH8 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 against the FH8.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and FH8 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing just by seeing specifications. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and FH8.

To sum up, each of the cameras have the same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The E-M1 provides the larger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF easier. The fresher E-M1 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.